Routine machine

ABSTRACT

A programmable electronic timing device for use in any sport that requires a routine, worn on the belt with an audible tone that signals when the pre-shot routine of an athlete begins and another tone that sounds when the shot or release of energy should take place according to that athlete&#39;s own natural acts. The electronic timing device, here after known as the Routine Machine, contains a timer to be used to time the entire amount of time an athlete should take in their pre-shot routine from start to finish, and provides the results on an easily read digital display. The Routine Machine also contains a metronome function which works in unison with the timing function and produces a tone intermittently from one-half second up to five-second intervals which will assist the athlete with rhythm and tempo training.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/325,693, entitled “The Routine Machine,” filed Sep. 27, 2001.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention is for an electronic timing device and metronome worn on the belt line of an athlete. The Routine Machine is a self-administered timing device to help the athlete create an exact pre-shot routine where every movement is the same. A self-started audible signal is sounded when the player is to begin their routine leading up to their particular athletic endeavor, and another different signal sounds when the athlete should be at his or her release or contact point. Every athlete has a different approach to their endeavor and the Routine Machine trains the athlete to relieve their mind of mechanics and let their minds use their own natural movement ability.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Other devices have been used to help athletes develop the timing of their swing, but not their entire swing. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,743,807 describes a timer worn on the belt with headphones with a specific goal to time a golfers swing during the actual swing itself. The athlete must attain a certain point in their swing at a specific time during the 1.5 seconds to 2 seconds a swing takes. Although it does have inference to a pre-shot routine it does not let the athlete self-administer their start time, does not have a timer built in and would have an athlete concentrate on making their motion at an exact time during their swing where as the present invention would have an athlete use their natural ability and not be confined to any specific time or mechanics during the swing motion of a golf club or any other sporting activity.

[0004] A second example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,871,406 describes a process of specifically timing a golf swing. The golf swing timer device described is a watch-like assembly worn on the athlete's wrist and requires the athlete to press buttons on the device to set the swing time for a particular golf club to be swung, observing an LED display which provides information previously set including golf club chosen, the yardage for the chosen club, and the swing time for the chosen club. The watch-like assembly provides an audible beep after the swing time has elapsed as notification that contact of the golf club with the golf ball should ideally occur. The athlete must activate a remote membrane switch located on a finger clip to indicate the start of a backswing.

[0005] Although this device does allow the athlete to administer their start time, only a single audible beep is produced and only at the end of the golf swing. This invention does not provide a plurality of audible signals for rhythm checks, nor does it provide a metronome function that would provide for tempo training. The additional steps required of the athlete to signal the device that a particular golf club is being used creates a significant limitation for use of the device for athletic routines beyond the scope of a specific golf application.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The general purpose of the present invention is a self programmable timing device to alert the athlete when to start their approach to their athletic endeavor and another alert to sound when their release or shot should occur all in accordance with their own inherent physical talents.

[0007] The embodiment of the present invention provides a stopwatch like assembly including a casing, a start button actuator, an on/off button, a time button, a set button and a metronome button. It also includes buttons to raise and lower the volume and buttons to raise and lower the rate of the time or metronome pulses. It also includes an LCD display which displays stopwatch time in tenths of seconds up to sixty seconds and also times down in tenths of seconds from sixty seconds to zero seconds.

[0008] One aspect of the present invention is a stopwatch assembly that is small and easy to use.

[0009] Another aspect and feature is a clip for applying the Routine Machine easily to a belt or the edge of an athlete's clothing.

[0010] Still another aspect and feature of the present invention is an easy to read LCD display.

[0011] Yet another significant feature of the present invention is a self-administering start button.

[0012] A further significant feature of the present invention is the built in metronome for use in tempo and timing training.

[0013] A still further significant feature of the present invention is a built in stop-watch mode used for timing an athlete's ever evolving pre-shot or release endeavor.

[0014] Having thus described the embodiments of the present invention, it is the principle object of the present invention to provide an electronic device to maintain a uniform and consistent pre-shot or pre-release routine.

[0015] One objective of the present invention is to provide an easily portable device to time an athlete's pre endeavor routine.

[0016] Another objective is to provide an easily programmable timing device.

[0017] Yet another objective of the present invention is to provide an athlete with a self-administering start button.

[0018] Still another objective of the present invention is to provide a stopwatch for the timing of a pre-swing or pre-release routine.

[0019] A further objective of the present invention is to incorporate a speaker to sound an audible tone when an athlete starts their routine and when an athlete's shot or release of energy should occur.

[0020] A still further objective of the present invention is to provide a metronome for use in the practice of tempo training or use within the time frame of the start of the athlete's routine to the release of energy.

[0021] Also the objective of the present invention is to train an individual to repeat a routine in any type of athletic endeavor, including but not limited to a pre-shot routine in basketball, tennis, bowling, track (including the discus, the hammer, the javelin, the pole vault, the high jump) or any other like task that involves a consistent routine leading up to a shot or release or movement.

[0022] This invention may be further developed within the scope of the following and the foregoing claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] The following detailed description and accompanying drawings in which like reference numerals designate like parts throughout the figures thereof and wherein will help in better understanding of the present invention.

[0024]FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of an electronic timing device, the present invention.

[0025]FIG. 2 illustrates the bottom view of the Routine Machine.

[0026]FIG. 3 illustrates the right side of the Routine Machine.

[0027]FIG. 4 illustrates the top end of the Routine Machine.

[0028]FIG. 5 illustrates the top view of the Routine Machine.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0029]FIG. 1 illustrates a view of the electronic timing device 4, the present invention. The electronic timing device 4 is comprised of a timer like assembly 5 having a casing 6 having a LCD display 7, a speaker 8, and a plurality of push button actuation including an on/off button 9, a time button 10, a metronome button 11, a set button 12, volume control buttons 13, rate control buttons 14, a self actuating start button 15, and a clip assembly 16.

[0030] The electronic timing device or Routine Machine is used to train an athlete to maintain an exact ritual or routine prior to their shot or release of energy by first allowing the athlete to time their routine by pressing the on/off button 9 which sets the Routine Machine in a stopwatch mode. After timing their routine several times and viewing that time on the LCD display 7, the athlete sets his time in the time mode by pressing the time button 10 then setting the time by pressing the rate up/down buttons 14 which is then displayed on the LCD display 7 then presses the set button which places their time in memory.

[0031] The Routine Machine is initiated by the athlete's pressing the start button 15 at the start of their routine which starts a countdown signaled by an audible tone when the start button 15 is self-actuated. At the end of the countdown when the time reaches 0:00 an audible tone will signal the player when his routine is over and a release of energy or shot should occur. If an athlete wishes to train themselves in tempo, they must press the metronome button 11 then press the set button 12 then press the rate up/down button to their desired tempo rate. The athlete then presses the start button 15 and an audible tone is sounded corresponding to the timing from ½ seconds up to 5-second increments, which the athlete has set in the metronome mode. The metronome will also sound throughout the countdown mode with audible beeps pre set by the athlete as described above unless the metronome is set to 0:00 time where no tones will be heard during the countdown time.

[0032] Mode of Operation

[0033] The electronic timing device is secured to the athlete's belt or waistband appropriately. The athlete then visualizes their endeavor presses the start button 15 which alerts the athlete that their routine has begun. The athlete then proceeds in a prescribed time towards their endeavor with the intention of releasing the energy of their endeavor at an exact time which corresponds to the time the athlete has entered into the time mode of the present invention. If the audible tone sounds before the release of said energy (whether it be a shot releasing of a ball or striking of a ball, or the release of body energy towards a specific goal) the athlete must speed up their routine. If the audible tone sounds after the release of said energy the athlete must slow down their routine.

[0034] The Routine Machine Parts List

[0035]4 electronic timing device

[0036]5 stopwatch like assembly

[0037]6 casing

[0038]7 LCD display

[0039]8 speaker

[0040]9 on/off button actuator

[0041]10 time mode button actuator

[0042]11 metronome button actuator

[0043]12 set mode button actuator

[0044]13 volume control up/down actuator

[0045]14 rate control up/down button

[0046]15 self actuating start button actuator

[0047]16 A clip for securing the Routine Machine appropriately to an athletes belt or waistband 

I claim:
 1. A method of training an athlete to perform an athletic endeavor that requires a paced routine comprising the steps of: a) providing a controller operatively located within a housing and programmed to produce a plurality of timing pattern signals in response to an entered set of said athletic endeavor timing data, wherein said controller further comprises an adjustment device for adjusting said timing pattern according to desired individual parameters; b) providing a LCD display on which timed results are visually displayed; c) providing a transmitter operatively controlled by said controller for transmitting audible signals corresponding to said timing pattern; d) transmitting an initialization signal in response to said athlete's activation of said controller to indicate said athletic endeavor starting point; and e) transmitting a second signal that indicates said athletic endeavor completion time according to said athlete's entered set of endeavor timing data.
 2. The method of claim 1, further providing a means of inputting into said controller, by way of said adjustment device, athlete's individual parameters for said athletic endeavor comprising the steps of: a) said athlete's timing a routine from a first movement toward said endeavor by first activating an “ON/OFF” button in communication with said controller to engage a stopwatch-mode of operation; b) said athlete then activates a “START” button at athlete's first movement of said endeavor which starts said stopwatch mode into a timer function; c) said athlete then activates said “START” button a second time exactly at a point in time corresponding to said athletic endeavor completion time; d) said athlete's observing the entire time of athlete's routine as preserved on said LCD display; e) said athlete's then activating a “TIME” button, and then activating a “SET” button to set their time into a time-mode of operation using up/down “RATE” buttons; and f) said athlete's then activating said “SET” button which stores the time into the memory of said controller.
 3. The method of claim 1, further providing a means for an athlete to perform an athletic endeavor requiring a routine motion in rhythm with a predetermined tempo comprising the steps of: a) providing a controller programmed to output a timing pattern in response to a preselected set of athlete endeavor timing data; b) said athlete's inputting into said controller by way of said adjustment device a time interval for rhythmic training; c) providing a transmitter in communication with said controller for transmitting signals corresponding to said timing pattern; d) transmitting to said athlete an initialization signal indicating an athletic endeavor starting point; and e) transmitting to said athlete a second plurality of signals corresponding to sequential points of said athletic endeavor, thereby allowing said athlete to perform said athletic endeavor at a tempo synchronous with said tempo set by said second plurality of signals.
 4. The method of claim 3, further providing a means of inputting into said controller, by way of said adjustment device, a time interval for rhythmic training comprising the steps of: a) said athlete's activating a “MET” button to enter a metronome-mode of operation; b) said athlete's then activating a “SET” button; c) said athlete's then activating up and down “RATE” buttons to select a desired time interval for rhythmic training; and d) said athlete's then activating said “START” button to initiate metronome operation. 